The number of people diagnosed with a heart rhythm condition that puts them at increased risk of a stroke has now passed 1.5m for the first time, according to our new figures.
Our medical director Professor Sir Nilesh Samani, Medical Director, said: “These figures show a quite astonishing rise in the number of people diagnosed with atrial fibrillation.
“Research has helped us understand the links between atrial fibrillation and stroke and that has spurred the efforts we have seen in recent years to identify people with this potentially dangerous heart rhythm.
“What remains troubling is the sheer number of people who are undiagnosed and unaware that they are living with a heightened risk of stroke. Finding people with this hidden threat must remain a priority.